Unable to browse all computers on net

[wolfej]

I've got a workgroup of win 2k, win xp, and win 98
workstations and one win2k server in the mix. The problem
has to do with browsing. The computers are all able to
ping each other by name, but they do not all see one
another in my network places (network neighborhood). Some
computers see more of their neighbors and some see less.
There seems to be no rhyme or reason to it. If I do a
computer search for a particular node, it will find it
even if it doesn't show up in network places.

Everybody has file and print sharing enabled. The network
spans two subnets, but this doesn't seem to be related.
Any ideas?

 

[GlenJohnson]

Do you have any error messages on the servers concerning wins or dns? On the machines that don't see the rest of the network, what does ipconfig /all show compared to others that do? Good luck. Glen A. Johnson
Johnson Computer Consulting
MCP W2K
glen@johnsoncomputers.us

Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884

"It's not what you look at that
matters, it's what you see."
Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862); US essayist, poet.

 

[kameleon80]

are all of them in the same workgroup? Also are you using "computers near me" in Network Neighborhood(NN)? If so try using the entire network link inn NN. Open NN, entire network, then over to the left you should see a link that says show entire netork contents, click the link, then click the microsoft windows netork icon to show all workgroups.

I don't think broadcast works on different subnets. So that could be your problem also. Broadcasting only works within the same subnet. (can't jump subnet's unless wins is available, I belive)

Might wanna try setting up Wins on the server machine.



Good luck

 

[danomac]

wolfej,

Some things to note:

-If you have a physical subnet (Computers A and B connected to NIC A on the server, Computers C and D connected to NIC B on the server) Computer D won't show up in the Network Neighbourhood for Computer A. You can use the "Find computer" option to search beyond your own local [physical] subnet.

-Windows XP has a KB article relating to being connected to a firewall/router that by default has ports closed that the Computer Browser needs. See

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315978

-Windows 98 clients need to be logging on using Client for Microsoft Networks and have File and Print Sharing enabled.

And like Glen mentioned, are there any error events in the Application or System errorlog?

 

[Seaspray0]

"The computers are all able to ping each other by name,"

good! tcp/ip is working. The problem lies solely with name resolution. W2k and XP will use dns or wins, 98 and NT will use wins. Make sure wins services are available to both subnets (netbios broadcasts will not cross subnets). check the use netbios over tcp/ip setting on your clients. If using dhcp, enable option 44 and 46. also let dhcp dynamically update dns for computers that don't support it (allows dhcp to update dns for the 98's) so your dns will be accurate as well. Try using a wins proxy on a subnet where a wins server is not available (2kpro or xp will do this).

 

[wolfej]

Thanks for all the input. I'm a little confused though. Since I am able to ping computers by name, then doesn't this mean that name resolution is working properly? I was thinking that the problem had to do more with microsoft browsing, ie the computer browsing service.

To provide more details and answers to your questions: All the computers are members of one and the same workgroup. Ipconfig /all provides the same info on all computers with the exception of ip and mac addresses, etc. Using computers near me and the entire network produces the same result. I am using netbios over tcpip on the workstations. Not using dhcp, but I'd like to eventually (once I get this working.)

And finally, my win2k server is running WINS server, but I am not particularly confident that it is working properly. (Even though it seems to be working properly because everybody can ping everybody else by name.) How can I flush its contents and let it start gathering information afresh?

How do I install a wins proxy on the other subnet?
Do you think this could be more or a browsing related issue than wins?

Thanks again for all your ideas.

Joel